A-Rod has hip surgery; recovery time 6 months

FILE - In this May 23, 2012, file photo, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez throws to first in the Yankees' baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium in New York. Rodriguez is scheduled for hip surgery on Jan. 16. The third baseman could be sidelined until the All-Star break because of the injury, which was disclosed by the team last month. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez had surgery on his left hip Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break.

The New York Yankees said Dr. Bryan Kelly repaired a torn labrum and impingement and the operation at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York "went as planned and without complication."

The 37-year-old former All-Star third baseman is expected to be released from the hospital on Thursday and the anticipated time for a full recovery is six months. The Yankees signed free agent Kevin Youkilis this offseason to play third base while Rodriguez is out.

Kelly said last week that Rodriguez had a condition known as femoral acetabular impingement and it was caused by genes, not by steroids. Rodriguez admitted in 2009 that he used steroids while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03.

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Kelly said the injury was responsible for Rodriguez's poor performance in September and October, when A-Rod was benched in three of nine postseason games and pinch hit for in three others. He batted .120 (3 for 25) with no RBIs in the playoffs, including 0 for 18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handed pitchers.

Rodriguez is due $114 million over the next five years as part of his record $275 million, 10-year contract, so his health is a major concern for the Yankees.

Describing the bone meeting the socket, Kelly said "we're basically taking an egg-shaped femoral head and through the use of a camera, a motorized burr and Fluoroscopic imaging, we're reshaping the bone to a predetermined shape."

A 14-time All-Star, Rodriguez had right hip surgery on March 9, 2009, and returned that May 8. Kelly said the left hip requires more recovery time because Rodriguez is a right-handed hitter and rotates it when he swings.